Apparatus for handling recumbent persons



J. E. LENAHAN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING RECUMBENT PERSONS Filed Aug. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 23, 1946. J. E. LENAHAN APPARATUS FOR HANDLiNG RECUMBENT PERSONS Filed Aug. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fawn 1 [efimfian/ B ATTORNEY Patented July 23, 1946 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING RECUMBENT PERSONS John E. Lenahan, Cornwall on the Hudson, N. Y. Application August 22, 1944, Serial No. 550,636

8 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for lifting, transferring and temporarily supporting persons in a reclining position and more particularly to such apparatus for so handling patients confined to hospital beds.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of apparatus embodying the invention shown in use; 4

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail in Perspective, of a strap fastening device;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a view similar to that disclosed in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective showing a complete apparatus embodying the invention;

and

Fig.5 isa similar perspective on reduced scale showing said apparatus assembled to support a patient away from the bed.

The invention is directed to providing a new and useful device for facilitating the handling of persons in reclining positions, more especially patients confined to their beds, who require to be moved from the bed temporarily to permit changing thereof, treatment ofthe patient, and

other purposes.

Objects of the invention are to permit the lifting and transfer of a reclining patient from his bed or similar support with the least possible disturbance of the patient and requiring the minimum of effort and physical strain on i thepart of the nurse or other attendant handling such patient. The invention also provides exceedingly simple, compact, rugged and relatively inexpensive equipment for so handling a recumbent patient. The mechanism is so designed that no mechanism need be attached to or otherwise mechanically connected to the bed and all overhanging or overhead cranes, slings or like elevating apparatus is eliminated, thereby making for greater peace of mind on the part of the patient, as well as providing the maximum of safety and simplicity in operation and construction.

Broadly described, the invention provides for one or' more concave scoops or patient-supports having projecting handles so that such scoops may, with a minimum of effort, discomfort and inconvenience, be inserted beneath the body of the recumbent patient, while he is lying in the bed. The insertion of such supporting scoop is performed in a wholly natural and simple manner requiring very little effort on the part of the nurse or operator.

The other major unit comprisingthe apparatus of the invention is a'portable stand provided with means for receiving and interlocking with the projecting handles of the above-mentioned supporting scoops. Said second unit also comprises means for thereafter elevating the scoop or scoops so as to raise the patient gently from the bed, whereby he may be moved away therefrom in a comfortable, safe and firmly supported position involving the minimum amount of lift- 5 ing and with substantially no twisting, turning or change from his original position. The patient so supported may thereupon be moved to any desired place to permit access to the unoccupied bed or for transportation elsewhere, as

may be desired. When the bed is again ready,

40 Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated byway of example in the accompanying drawings, a recumbent patient P is shown lying on his back on topof the mattress ID of a simple hospital "bed. Said bed comprises the head frame II, the foot frame l2 and the inter-connecting spring frame l3. The head and foot frames are preferably mounted on casters l4. It will be understood that the bed as shown and described constitutes no necessary part of the invention.

In its preferred form the invention provides a pair of relatively long and narrow concave scoop members 20 and 2|. Said scoops and the parts attached to them are equivalent and interchangeable in construction,'so that only one of the pair him. A handle 22, preferably comprising a rigid rectangular bar, is rigidly fastened, as by welding, to the central part of the-underside ofthescoop N, the upper edge of said handle being as will be clear from Figs. land l, the strap may be brought across the body of the patient and fastened to the far side of the scoop after the scoop has been wholly inserted. The strap may then be drawn up to any desired position of tightness and thus the patient more securely retained in and on the scoop or scoops. It will be understood rthatother. means-.=fior temporarilyfasteni'nathapatient onto theiscieops mayihegprovided without departing from the general purposes of mthe invention, the chief object being to provide fastening means which will not interfere with itllieintroduction 'of the scoop beneath the patient as'shown in Fig. 3, for example.

against the underside of the scoop. Saidhandle h projects horizontally from the scoop "at right;

Referringynow-zto:the second unit of the invention, same comprises means for elevating and supporting-thepatient apart from the bed and angles to the elements of the cylindricalssurjace thereof, as shown. The handle bar 22 extends a ;distance of some two. feet outwardly from the hean dgeiof the scoop vand ,at its outer-end jis lprovidedwith a .reduced ,grip ,portion 124. About midway between its ends a rectangular collar125 is ;fi x,ed. t .th,e.handle bar to .forma stopn' emteam a second .roundedgrip ,portion 126 is ..i n .e ,ins d' and adia ri fltf lsaid s o m m e .A -W cl fro th d wi s; lth nurs or operator N takes. the han'dlebar'zzby..theftwo .g 'pszla d lfi and becau'se of its smootl'ico'neave s-ha "e, can verveasfly insert th'e sc'oop beneath 9 fi n l r iee e mattress] l Th ppe ation, ,as. il ustr t d 'iss- -.and.3...ls formed by usingthe scoop 2d beneath the head andtorso of .thepatient whilethe secondgscoop maythen ,Qbeslid heheath,the hips and legs "manner; P eferably the ,twoscpqps ,are spaced somewhat apart at fthe'hips to leave as? eihcr w e i-i h e en q ns- ,ifort ntawa irQmi e-b d- A W lLbe Q Qd f om .l1.- ads.m hea of h atien I i-amen- 9 l i nei i e l5-"A E TWb -h ma e f ins ted 1. ha an -con truction ntne-scoepsare such 1 .trlally ;no dlsccgifiort; or disturbance 'is caused" to haretie tbriheseam n-i s math him; bi ath a is We; n h l I ha earesuchthatan ,efifectivefleverage f. :t at ena elativelylsmallfo weak operator .can :very easily introduce the scoops z s sath. h -eeav e hna e V bans may be provided forgnore securelyiastc ng the patient to the scoopsafter same have been inserted beneath him,,althoughlsucmmeans are .notessential to the primary objects ,of .the inv ntion and .may be considered -as optional.

and for purposes. of possibleftr-eatnient in .the

finch @me c m rise lw l lis s raps 21 which tained-pnstheputer edge ,of either scoop by e P 10. Q d e o ation .h'e n, eneased byga; s ribewp ess d min 12.8- l aid (is be med 13.0 pass sl d ably itlrroughia lconforming .onenina nla .ues-hapedihoidin braeket aaen the ssideiedge iof :the scoop 20 and lime d-a zreceiying recesszkl in said side of the scoop. A-leafspring $2:- is attaehed to said pin i fl to urge'same into 'strap holding position. lt wilbbe obvious-*that the-of *thestrap maybe set at any :one of the several perforations 2B for pu'rposes'of ad justment. The opposite" end o'f'jthe strap '21, which normally hangs free from the bracket 31?, p ov ded with a strap h0 kfl 5, which hook .is

" ,eans i-sp ed pa t pe f a ions 18,- in thee adaptedltdbe engagedin a rec'eiikihsslotffifi on the opposite 'or far side of the scooplt. 'Thus,

for moving him while so supported to any desired place. A preferred form of such apparatus is shown inFigs-A .and 5 and ,comprisea rectan lar, rairlyheavy platform 148., which .is .meulited on ,rollers,"wheels or casters 4| iQr mQvBmen over-.jtheffioor, orily ,two of :snh castersbeing shown.

.Upstandinsfrom the u per surface ,o'isa'id platform are pr videda .ipairpf .cy indersfi and .3,, which cylinders are adapted .Ito house the verti all .sl d able plun er members .44 .Land 55., respectively, of two hydraulic (jacks. Referring .to {thejjack plunger '44 .(the ,l lllnger A5 Ibeing .of equivalent construction) same comprises ausolild cylindrical body havingits bottom .end Ppreterablyila andbe n .Qf agiliamelterto.forma'ltight sliding jfit within the .qylirider .42. The .upper end ofsaid plunger1M;isjpreferablyibevled down wardly and rearwardlyat TdLjlearZinga ,shortjflat topsurface 43. The .topiend' of saidplungerlis iiiametrally .s'lottejd .at '50 to .provide .aleceiving recess for the projecting end of 'theilharidlebar 22. The bottom of said slot fifljisihorizontalarid ponforms to the b ttOmSurfaQe .Lolfthe rectangular ar' 12.2. ;As .wil1 ,b,e' obvious from the drawings jthe'slot'5fi is adapted to receive'the projectingenii 0f .thebarZZ. when .the plunger .44, bynmvement of the platfoim"40',is brought jntojline with said handlebar. IIhe grip portion 2'4 of. said handle bar is adapted to projectfbeyond.theslot'jland heninsu hno ition the stgpmemb rffi iit lgzmhears against thelinner surface joff them-lin er .I G ider to lcckthebar withintheslot 5.0..and hold same in posit on, ,the v.Iipper .surracefloflsaiii bar is notched at "5| Qtofi rec, ive a 15111.52 which is passed through ,holes".5.3 in theiears (5.4 v.Wli h extend in prolon ation .of the .slot 50 '.on ithe plunger 44. When .the bar .22 is -thlis received ,Within' 1711.6. S101; and 115116 pin slid home, the 'bar. securely ,jloc'ked .to theplunger a gains,t..s1idin.or rocking movement .and projects horizontlly therefrom "by cantilever support... "lThegpin Q52 may.b e.attached.to ear 5.4.as byaTchainLSF-i. It

7 willibe ;Qb vious that similar means .are provided 43, respectively, through suitable conduits as indicated Said pumps are preferably actuated by a projectingpedal 62 which functions ina known mannerksimilar to such device on a -dentists fchair,: forgexampler 1 Preferably, although not. necessarily, the invention provides means for varying the lateral distance between the two. hydraulic plungers 44 and. .As illustratively embodied, this means comprises a U-shaped leaf spring. member. which bears at its lower ends against'the bot- .toms of thecylinders42' and'43." Whilethe bottom of: cylinder 43 is fixed to the top of platform 40, as by rivets H, the bottom of cylinder. 42; is laterallyjslideable on,the platform for a limited distance. As shown, the bottom plate 13 of the cylinder 42 underlies horizontal flanges I4 and 15 whibn are fixed to the upper surface of the platform so as to permit such horizontal sliding motion of the cylinder 42. To effect such motion, a curved lever 80 is pivotally mounted at 8| on the upper surfaceof the platform near the far edge thereof and projects upwardly to lie between the two cylinders 42 and 43. Intermediate its ends, said lever is pivotally connected to the top of the U-shaped spring 10, and continues onwardly and upwardly therefrom to terminate in a T-shaped head 82 which forms a handle. When the operator merely pushes or pulls horizontally on such handle, the platform will be moved correspondingly over the floor. However, by pressing down on such handle the spring 10 is expanded and thereby acts to force the cylinder 42 laterally away from the cylinder 43 and in this manner a horizontal spreading action between the two cylinders may be effected.

In operaton of my apparatus, the operator N will bring the platform alongside the bed, as shown in Fig. 4, after the scoops have been placed beneath the patient and he has been fastened thereto by the straps 21. By properly manipulating the approach of the platform, the projecting handles 22 will be caused to slide into the receiving slots 50 at the tops of the plungers 44 and 45 and locked therein as described above. The patient may then immediately be-elevated a desired distance above the bed by actuation of the pedal 62 and then pulled away from the bed and moved to any desired position as shown in Fig. 5, for example. When it is desired to return the patient to the bed, this operation is repeated in reverse, the plungers being lowered by operation of a release valve 65 in known manner,

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for handling recumbent persons including in combination a supporting member of area sufiicient to underlie a substantial portion of a persons body, a handle connected to said member for introducing said member beneath a persons body, said handle extending rigidly from said member to a locus remote from said persons body when the member so underlies said body, and means attachable to the handle adjacent said locus for providing cantilever support to said handle, member and person lying thereupon.

2. Apparatus for handling recumbent persons including icombination .a supporting member of .area sufficient to underlie a substantial-portion of, a persons bodyya handle connected to said member for introducing said. member beneath a persons body, said .handle extending rigidly from said member, to a locus remote from said persons body when the member sounderlies said :body, a. carriage movable toward and away .from said locus;l.and means on said carriage andattachable to the handle adjacent said locus ,for providing cantilever support' to .said

-handle, member and person lying thereupon. H

- 3. Apparatus for handling recumbent persons includingin. combination asupporting member comprisinga shallow concave plate of area sufficient tounderlie a substantial portion of a per sons body, a handl connected to said member for introducing said member beneath a persons body, said handle extending rigidly from said member to a locus remote from said persons body when the member so underlies said body, and means attachable to the handle adjacent said locus for providing cantilever support to said handle, member and person lying thereupon.

4. Apparatus for handling recumbent persons including in combination a pair of supporting members of area sufficient to underlie a substantial portion of a persons body, handles connected to either member for introducing said members individually beneath a persons body, said handles extending rigidly from said members to loci remote from said persons body when the respective members so underlie said body, and means attachable to the handles adjacent said loci for providing cantilever support to said handles, members and person lying thereupon.

5. Apparatus for handling recumbent persons including in combination a pair of supporting members of area suflicient to underlie a substantial portion of a person's body, handles connected to either member for introducing said members individually beneath a persons body, said handles extending rigidly from said members to loci remote from said persons body when the respective members so underlie said body, a carriage movable toward and away from said loci, said carriage having means for detachably engaging said handles adjacent said loci for providing cantilever support to the handles, members and person lying thereon.

6. Apparatus for handling recumbent persons including in combination a pair of supporting members of area sumcient to underlie a substantial portion of a persons body, handles connected to either member for introducing said members individually beneath a persons body, said handles extending rigidly from said members to. loci remote from said persons body when the respective members so underlie said body, a carriage movable toward and away from said loci, said carriage having supporting means for detachably engaging said handles adjacent said loci for providing cantilever support to the handles, members and person lying thereon and operatorcontrolled elevating means on the carriage for raising and lowering the handles, members and person while so supported.

'7. Apparatus for handling recumbent persons including in combination a pair of supporting members of area suflicient to underlie a substantial portion of a persons body, handles connected to either member for introducing said members individually beneath a persons body, said handles extending rigidly from said members to loci remote from said persons body when the respective-members so. underlie sa'ldfbody, a carriage movable toward and away from 'said'lo'ci, said carriage "having a pair ofupstanding vertically movable-hydraulic jack plungers spaced: apart andlihaiving means" for rigidly engaging the proiecting handles to provide cantilever support therefor, andi operator controlled means for raising and lowering said plungers together tolift person lying upon the supporting members Iirom the bed and to lower him. asidesired.

: -i :8. Apparatus for handling recumbent persons including combination a painof supporting members of area. sufiicient to underlie a. substantial portion of aperso'ns body, handles connected to (either member for introducing said members individually beneath a personfs body,

7 8 said handles extending rigidly iron; said membets to: loci remote from saidpersons may the respective members so underlie saidbodyg a carriage movable toward and away from said loci,

persomlying upon the .supportingmembers iron-1' the bed and to'lowenhim as desired;;and means for varying the 7 lateral distance between said plungers for engagement with, saidprojecting' handles. .7 a v 

